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Journal Article
Economic History: The Bank War
In his July 1832 veto message of the bill rechartering the Second Bank of the United States, President Andrew Jackson didn't hold back. Beyond characterizing the bank as hopelessly corrupt, he argued "the powers conferred upon [the bank were] ... not only unnecessary, but dangerous to the Government and the country." He went on, warning that if it continued to operate, "great evils... might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people." He argued that its power would only grow, as its leaders could "put forth their strength to influence ...
Briefing
Networks, Innovation and Productivity: A Conference Recap
How do employment targets affect firm dynamics? What is the relationship between inventor migration, and local productivity and knowledge spillovers? How are surplus gains from inventions distributed? These were among the questions addressed by economists during a recent Richmond Fed research conference.Economists from the Richmond Fed, research universities and other institutions met in Richmond for a conference in May. Researchers presented papers on a variety of topics, including digital advertising, R&D allocation, production networks, and knowledge creation and diffusion.
Briefing
Secular Trends in Macroeconomics and Firm Dynamics: A Conference Recap
How does declining population growth affect firm dynamics? Is income growth volatility decreasing in the U.S.? How do changes in housing prices affect young businesses? Have investments in artificial intelligence improved productivity? These were among the questions addressed by economists during a recent Richmond Fed research conference.
Journal Article
Federal Reserve: The Origins of the 2 Percent Inflation Target
Eight times a year, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets to conduct monetary policy, and, regardless of what actions it takes, this seemingly straightforward line has appeared in each of its post-meeting statements since September 2020. By now, many Fed watchers may take it for granted.But the committee — the Federal Reserve Board's seven governors, the president of the New York Fed, and a rotating set of four presidents from the other Reserve Banks — has not always been so transparent and precise on this subject. For decades, it did not aim for a target inflation number; even ...
Journal Article
Economic History: The Economic History of the Shopping Mall — and Its Future (Yes, It Does Have One)
Most Americans probably have an impression or feeling when they think of the mall, whether they spent much time there or not. For some, that sensation may be formed by time spent slurping an Orange Julius, listening to CDs at Sam Goody, or inhaling the fragrances spilling out of Bath & Body Works. Others' impressions may have come from the ubiquity of malls in popular culture, from Joan Didion's 1975 essay "On the Mall," to movies like Mallrats or George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, to, most recently, Starcourt Mall in the television series Stranger Things.
Briefing
Intermediation and Bank Liquidity: A Conference Recap
How might a central bank digital currency alter banking system operations? What is the effect of credit easing on the dynamics of bank runs? Does increased competition among banks mean a more fragile banking system, and what can be done about it? These were among the research questions addressed by economists during a recent Richmond Fed research conference.
Journal Article
The End of the Student Loan Repayment Moratorium
"College is an investment." It's a common line in dinner table conversations about higher education. The conventional wisdom is that college will set graduates on a trajectory where they are likely to earn far more than they would have otherwise. Indeed, research from the New York Fed suggests that recent college graduates on average earn substantially more — upward of $24,000 per year more — than workers in the same age group with only a high school degree. And this wage premium for college graduates only increases over time, as it goes from about 27 percent at age 25 to 60 percent by ...
Discussion Paper
Creating a STEM Employment Pipeline in Eastern North Carolina Schools
The communities of eastern North Carolina are working to develop and maintain a workforce that will support existing employers and attract additional STEM industries to the region. NC East Alliance, an economic development organization representing 29 counties, is partnering with 29 school districts and 14 community colleges to train students in the skills needed for possible jobs in those fields.
Journal Article
At the Richmond Fed: The CFO Survey
Every quarter, The CFO Survey collects the views of chief financial officers and other financial leaders throughout the United States, gathering insight into their firms' financial outlook and concerns, as well as their perceptions of the economy. The survey, which is a collaboration among the Richmond Fed, the Atlanta Fed, and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, meets a crucial need for policymakers who rely on real-time data from businesses of all sizes when making decisions, especially during volatile times. "In this period of uncertainty, a business survey like this has been ...
Journal Article
Climate Change and the Economy
Richmond Fed senior economist Toan Phan has spent the past decade exploring the economics of climate change. His research in this area began as he was finishing graduate school in 2012, when he was struck by the potential economic implications of climate-related disasters like flooding and hurricanes. So, along with colleagues Riccardo Colacito of the University of North Carolina and Bridget Hoffmann of the Inter-American Development Bank, he began a project to understand the relationship between increasing temperatures and economic growth. The resulting article, "Temperature and Growth: A ...